Review of Scandal (1989) by Sunny Girl I — 07 May 2012

In 1963, the conservative British government was shaken to its foundations by the Profumo Scandal. The central character in this disastrous affair was John Profumo, Britain's minister of war, who had become sexually involved with call-girl Christine Keeler, whose "sponsor" was high-priced osteopath Dr. Stephen Ward. Fancying himself a dashing international adventurer, Ward had also offered Christine to alleged Soviet spy Eugene Ivanov. Another of Ward's stable, Mandy Rice-Davies, allegedly had slept with numerous British and American luminaries.

I was completely lost for words as I watched Michael Caton-Jones "Scandal". It is a fascinating and yet complex film that deserves to be in good comparison to previous rise and fall pictures such as "Goodfellas", "Casino", "Nixon" and "Bonnie & Clyde". John Hurt is very good as Stephen Ward as is Ian McKellan as Profumo. The best scene in the film is during the court room, where Keeler is seen getting sandbagged with stong questions involving the scandal. A very distraught Hurt stands up and yells out to Keeler's defence (almost a cry out to God) and says..."That is not fair!".

The camera focuses intensely on Hurt's face that made me cringe with sympathy. I cringed because Stephen Ward's reptuation sank faster then the Titanic. I also found Joanne Whalley to be very good and confident as Christine Keeler, Briget Fonda gives a great performance as Mandy Rice-Davies, Ian McKellan as Defence Minister John Profumo and British singer Roland Gift (Fine Young Cannibals) as Johnny Edgecombe. "Scandal" is a great film, a fascinating one that will want me to read up more on the Profumo affair.